Marion, Iowa © Tasha Sams
We work in collaboration with thousands of local partners and grassroots leaders across the nation who share our commitment to advancing shared prosperity, creating resilient economies, and improving quality of life.
Emporia, Kansas © Emporia Main Street
Made up of small towns, mid-sized communities, and urban commercial districts, the thousands of organizations, individuals, volunteers, and local leaders that make up Main Street America™ represent the broad diversity that makes this country so unique.
Chicago, Illinois © Main Street America
Looking for strategies and tools to support you in your work? Delve into the Main Street Resource Center and explore a wide range of resources including our extensive Knowledge Hub, professional development opportunities, field service offerings, advocacy support, and more!
Waterloo, Iowa © Main Street Waterloo
Your one-stop-shop for all the latest stories, news, events, and opportunities – including grants and funding programs – across Main Street.
Kendall Whittier — Tulsa, Oklahoma © Kendall Whittier Main Street
Join us in our work to advance shared prosperity, create strong economies, and improve quality of life in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.
Macon, Georgia.
The quiz is an experimental tool designed to help local leaders assess strengths and challenges related to housing in their downtowns or commercial corridors. Respondents are prompted to answer 12 questions to find out the “personality” of their district and are directed to resources that cover related housing topics.
The Housing Quiz follows the release of At Home on Main Street: A Report on the State of Housing in Downtown and Neighborhood Commercial Districts, a data-centric report on the state of housing in Main Street districts, and At Home on Main Street: A Housing Guidebook for Local Leaders, a user-friendly guide containing recommendations for supporting housing and case studies from Main Streets across the country.
This work is generously supported by the 1772 Foundation.
Here are the complete set of resources included in the quiz. The resources have been divided into ten categories based on the recommendations provided in the quiz.
Main Street America
Center for Community Progress
Main Street America
Main Street America
Federal Emergency Management Agency
National Park Service
Main Street America
American Planning Association
Center for Community Progress
International Code Council
Upstairs Downtown
Main Street America
Main Street America
CDBG Coalition
Council of Development Finance Agencies
Grow America
Internal Revenue Services
Local Housing Solutions
MacArthur Foundation
National Housing Conference
National Park Services
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Opportunity Finance Center
US Department of Housing and Urban Development
Main Street America
HUD User
National Housing Conference
Main Street America
Main Street America
Main Street America
Greater Ohio Policy Center
Questions? Email research@mainstreet.org
In this article, Patrice Frey explores how barriers to small-scale real estate development deals stymie growth and wealth building. She explains why building small matters, the problems faced by small-scale developers, opportunities for direct investment and greenhouse gas reduction, and more.
Watch this webinar to learn about the Building Opportunities on Main Street (BOOMS) Tracker's functionality, see a live demonstration of how quick and easy it is to enter data, and get a preview for what's next for this powerful tool made for local leaders.
Designed for local leaders, this user-friendly property inventory tool allows users to easily gather, store, and showcase information about buildings and lots in their districts. The Building Opportunities on Main Street Tracker (BOOMS) Tracker is available to all designated Main Street districts in our network.
This guide from Main Street Alabama identifies the ways that municipal regulations can be used to support downtown transformation efforts with an emphasis on zoning and building codes.
Use this resource to guide your efforts to established or re-draw the boundaries of your downtown or neighborhood commercial district. Published by Texas Main Street Program.
Use this tool to help you understand property characteristics and history, ownership, environmental conditions, and reuse planning to make more informed decisions. Published by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Watch this webinar to learn how to use incubation spaces, fabrication labs, entrepreneurial training classes, adult pitch funding activities, investment groups, and alternative finance enhancements to drive downtown growth.
This groundbreaking study concludes that building reuse almost always offers environmental savings over demolition and new construction.
As you work with property owners to develop historic structures for retail, housing, and other uses, it is important to understand the necessary fire safety upgrades you need to make. Handbook published by National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Washington, DC © Lori Feinman
As part of our "At Home on Main Street" project, this guidebook provides detailed guidance on zoning, regulations, downtown vacancies, real estate funding, and more to help local leaders improve housing access and affordability in their communities.
As part of our "At Home on Main Street" project, this report explores nationwide research on housing stock, affordability, and accessibility in historic downtowns and neighborhoods.
This guide from the Washington Main Street Program provides a primer than Main Street programs can use as they approach property development and real estate management.
Marion, Iowa. © Eagle View Partners
National Trust for Historic Preservation experts share how non-profits can use tax credits to protect historic buildings and community assets.
Advice for downtown managers to resolve issues with absentee property owners to ensure a vibrant and sustainable downtown landscape. Published by Indiana Main Street.
An article from State of Main describing the need for place-led economic development that produces strong economic outcomes for communities.
Learn why small-scale development projects and incremental improvements are the key to creating vibrant local economies and distinctive places that will thrive well into the future. Published in State of Main.
Independent makers and manufacturers are helping to fuel a renaissance in downtowns and commercial districts, harnessing renewed interest in locally produced materials and experiential shopping. Published in State of Main.
Learn how local funding solutions like investment clubs and community-driven fundraising can kickstart downtown redevelopment.- Published in Main Street Now Journal.
Learn how a Main Street turned a historic preservation problem into an real estate opportunity and learned how to acquire, rehab, and save historic buildings while bringing in critical income. Published in main Street Now Journal.
Revised zoning codes and updated land-use plans give communities the ability to shape their future while protecting their past. Published in Main Street Now Journal.
Filling vacant retail space is a persistent challenge. Every commercial district has a few stubborn vacancies that detract from its visual appeal and reduce long-term economic vitality. In this article, Errin Welty explains how to assess these spaces and work with resistant landlords.
Marshalltown, IA
Find out what can be done to ensure that our historic buildings withstand the test of time. Published in Main Street Now Journal.
See how a group of citizens in Goldsboro, North Carolina, devised a plan to reduce residential vacancies in three downtown neighborhoods.
To reduce storefront vacancies, the Main Street program in Cambridge, Maryland, created the Holiday Pop-Up Project, which gave two entrepreneurs the chance to test out their retail concepts rent-free for two months.
Hazard mitigation planning is an important process to protect your historic assets. This guide will take you through the processes of organizing your resources, assessing risks, developing your plan, and implementing your plan.
